Lefebvre Named Peabody Fellow
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Zachary Dittami ’12: Shoot for the stars
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acqueline Lefebvre, Bancroft’s director of college counseling, has been selected as a 2012 Summer Fellow of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, the top-ranked school of education according to U.S. News & World Report. Lefebvre will attend the Peabody Professional Institute for Independent School Leadership from June 25-29, 2012, on the Peabody campus at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” says Lefebvre. “It’s a chance to not only gain new tools and insights from Peabody’s educational experts, but to meet and engage with other professionals at independent schools who are facing real-world challenges and finding success, just as we are.” Designed with the same rigor and depth as their degree programs, Peabody Institutes are intended to expand the participants’ knowledge of how educational organizations function, and to provide a strong theoretical perspective that they can use to shape good practice and leadership at their home institutions. “Professional development is an important part of my commitment to our students, just like making sure they have access to the latest technology and resources,” Lefebvre says. “I’m looking forward to an intensive week of learning. I expect I’ll come away filled with energy and new ideas. I’m excited to study at such a renowned university where I can get to know it on a more personal level so that knowledge can be brought back to our juniors and seniors.”
hile lessons in teamwork are typically developed on the soccer field or basketball court, Zack Dittami learned about teamwork through the theater program. “I’ve realized that every single person from the lead to the backstage crew is equally important in the production of a successful show,” he says. Zack’s known by his campus community as having a bubbly and friendly personality that always lights up a room. His determination, poise, confidence, and passion for everything he does has inspired his peers and the wider faculty at Bancroft. “I have been impressed with how interested he is with the success of everybody on the Speech Team,” says Chris Sheldon, member of the Performing Arts faculty and the Speech Team coach. Zack developed a passion for Speech when he came to high school. The countless accomplishments in his career include Catholic Forensic League National qualifier all four years of high school, as well as state champion in three different categories. He has gained the highest honor in Speech from the National Forensic League known as the degree of “Premier Distinction.” This places him among the top half of one percent of the 120,000 competitors. A well-rounded student who personifies the Bancroft way, Zack is not hesitant to try new things. He is a lead singer in two a cappella groups, Guy Tunes and Uncommon Time. While singing with the a cappella group he taught himself vocal percussion beat boxing. Zack has a broad range of talents from playing on the Varsity Soccer Team during their NEPSAC finalist run in 2011 to being selected for the Spanish National Honor Society. According to Zack, “don’t be afraid to take risks and make a fool of yourself. Don’t hold back because it is at that point that your heart and soul shine into your performances. Most people in America would rather die than give a public speech, but through constant practice and determination one can overcome this fear of speaking in front of an audience. Before you know it, you begin to enjoy it.” Zack’s academic journey continues as he plans to major in communications at George Mason University this fall where he will, indeed, compete on the collegiate stage. – Anastasia Theophanous ‘13
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